Telecom Fibre Available to More New Zealanders

Telecom’s Ultra Fibre broadband is now
available across the ultra fast broadband (UFB) fibre
network to more New Zealanders than any other residential
broadband provider.

Yesterday’s launch with Ultrafast
Fibre, the only remaining Local Fibre Company that Telecom
did not offer service with, means Telecom now has the
largest residential fibre footprint in the country, covering
28 of the 30 active fibre areas that currently have a fibre
network laid. Telecom has plans to launch Ultra Fibre in
the last two areas, Wanganui and Taupo, by the end of August
this year.

David Havercroft, Telecom Connect Chief
Operating Officer says: “Launching with Ultrafast Fibre
means that customers right across the country can make the
most of the fibre technology and the speeds and consistency
it brings them.”

There are a further three areas,
Feilding, Waiheke Island and Rangiora, which are included in
the government’s planned ‘fibre footprint’ but where
the Local Fibre Company has not yet built fibre to the
street. However, Mr Havercroft said that Telecom was ready
to go live in these areas as soon as the infrastructure was
laid.

“We will continue to work with all our
infrastructure providers to give our customers access to
fibre services as soon as possible after the cables have
been laid.

“Each Fibre Company has its own processes and
uses different systems and technology, so we’ve been
working closely with each one to make sure our customer
systems and processes link up seamlessly. In some cases
this has taken some time, but we wanted to give customers
the best experience possible when launching rather than
making the launch a rush job.

“Telecom Ultra Fibre
broadband users are also much more likely to access data
heavy online content like video, meaning they do far more
online than the average person. To support the higher levels
of data consumption, Telecom needed to increase the capacity
of our back-end network in fibre areas before we launched.
We anticipate a steady increase in interest as awareness of
Ultra Fibre grows and customers discover the amazing
experiences fibre can deliver.”

Under the
Government-supported UFB rollout, approximately 75 per cent
of New Zealanders will have access to ultra fast broadband
over fibre. Four companies - Chorus, Enable, Northpower
Fibre and Ultrafast Fibre – have each been allocated
specific regions to roll out fibre for ultra fast broadband
to the home.

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